Mirella Sichirollo Patzer's Blog, page 7

Hoyden of the Week

Do these heads make our butts look big?

The Most Beautiful Woman of Florence and the Renaissance

Simonetta Cattaneo VespucciIn the 15th century, the height of the Renaissance, Simonetta Cattaneo was said to be the most beautiful woman in all of Florence. The daughter of a Genoese nobleman, at the age of 15 she married Marco Vespucci, a relative of the famous explorer, Amerigo Vespucci. For Marco, it was love at first sight. For Simonetta, it was considered an excellent match as Marco's family had strong connections to the great Medici family. The wedding took place in Florence where she became extremely popular, especially by Lorenzo and Giuliano di Medici who hosted the lavish wedding. Her beauty was mesmerizing and she soon caught the attention of Sandro Botticelli. She became known as the Queen of Beauty. Giuliano de MediciPoor Simonetta, however, did not live a long life. She caught tuberculosis and died at the age of 22. Thousands mourned her loss. Rumor had it that Botticelli loved her, and even asked to be buried at her feet in the Church of the Ognissanti in Florence. Church of the OgnissantiHer life has been re-imagined in the novel, The Most Beautiful Woman in Florence, by Alyssa Palombo.
"In the tradition of Tracy Chevalier’s Girl with a Pearl Earring, Palombo has married fine art with romantic historical fiction in this lush and sensual interpretation of Medici Florence, artist Sandro Botticelli, and the muse that inspired them all." - Booklist A girl as beautiful as Simonetta Cattaneo never wants for marriage proposals in 15th Century Italy, but she jumps at the chance to marry Marco Vespucci. Marco is young, handsome and well-educated. Not to mention he is one of the powerful Medici family’s favored circle.Even before her marriage with Marco is set, Simonetta is swept up into Lorenzo and Giuliano de’ Medici’s glittering circle of politicians, poets, artists, and philosophers. The men of Florence―most notably the rakish Giuliano de’ Medici―become enthralled with her beauty. That she is educated and an ardent reader of poetry makes her more desirable and fashionable still. But it is her acquaintance with a young painter, Sandro Botticelli, which strikes her heart most. Botticelli immediately invites Simonetta, newly proclaimed the most beautiful woman in Florence, to pose for him. As Simonetta learns to navigate her marriage, her place in Florentine society, and the politics of beauty and desire, she and Botticelli develop a passionate intimacy, one that leads to her immortalization in his masterpiece, The Birth of Venus.
Alyssa Palombo’s The Most Beautiful Woman in Florence vividly captures the dangerous allure of the artist and muse bond with candor and unforgettable passion.

My Opinion

Was there really a love between Simonetta and Sandro Botticelli? No one will ever know for certain. Although this is only deemed a rumor, author Alyssa Palombo explores this possibility. The prose is lovely, filled with wonderful descriptions of Florence with its location, fashions, and famous personages. The author truly did a fabulous job of weaving a fascinating tale, especially once the conflict kicked into high gear. Simonetta is truly a likable character, aware of her great beauty, but never vain, never one to flaunt it or use it to her advantage. Sandro Botticelli was portrayed as simply enchanting, honorable, respectful. But my highest praise is for the author who chose a lesser known woman in history and recreated her vibrant life. It was a real pleasure to read about someone other than the same over-used female figures such as the Tudor wives. Highly recommended!

Scandalous Bad Girl - Alice Caush

This is Alice Caush. Alice is a thief. She stole a watch from a sailor named George. Poor George. When his ship reached port, he received his pay. Accompanied by two friends, he departed for his lodgings. Along the way, they met Alice and her friend. They agreed to go to George's lodgings. Of course, they all drank and fell asleep. When George awoke, he noticed his watch missing from his pocket. He called the police. It did not take long for the police to locate the missing watch at a local pawn shop. The pawnbroker gave evidence that he advanced Alice 6s 6d for a watch that she said belonged to her brother. Caught red handed, Alice pleaded guilty to the offence and received 14 days in prison. 

Hoyden of the Week

Me? Smoke? Certainly not! My hands have never raised a cigarette to my lips!

Scandalous Bad Girl - Annie Anderson

This is Annie Anderson. Annie kept a brothel despite being convicted and serving a one month sentence for a similar offence the month before. Apparently, the moment she was released from prison, she hurried back to her old room and continued to carry on managing the whorehouse just as before. It wasn't long before serious complaints spewed forth and the police had no choice but to re-arrest Annie. This time she was sentence to three months hard labour. Don't be like Annie Anderson!

Vintage Beauty

Gutsy Gal - Martha Louise Black

Martha Louise Black was a true lady, but with a very tough constitution. In 1898 she abandoned Chicago society and went north to take part in the exciting Kondike Gold Rush. Fascinated by the North, Martha opened a milling business to support her three sons by her first marriage. At the age of 70, she entered politics and campaigned on foot throughout the vast Yukon and became the second woman ever elected to the Canadian Parliament. She was known for her great style and spirit. It was these qualities that made her a great legend of the North!

Scandalous Bad Girl - Alice Adeline Cooke

Alice Adeline Cooke
Alice gained notoriety as a bigamist and thief. By the age of 24 she had amassed an impressive number of and at least two husbands that we know of. It's not hard to see why. Even the police were taken with her beauty. They described her as "rather good looking". 

The Chilbury Ladies' Choir by Jennifer Ryan

NATIONAL BESTSELLER
For readers of Lilac Girls and The Nightingale, The Chilbury Ladies' Choir unfolds the struggles, affairs, deceptions, and triumphs of a village choir during World War II

As England becomes enmeshed in the early days of World War II and the men are away fighting, the women of Chilbury village forge an uncommon bond. They defy the Vicar’s stuffy edict to close the choir and instead “carry on singing,” resurrecting themselves as the Chilbury Ladies’ Choir. We come to know the home-front struggles of five unforgettable choir members: a timid widow devastated when her only son goes to fight; the older daughter of a local scion drawn to a mysterious artist; her younger sister pining over an impossible crush; a Jewish refugee from Czechoslovakia hiding a family secret; and a conniving midwife plotting to outrun her seedy past. An enchanting ensemble story that shuttles from village intrigue to romance to the heartbreaking matters of life and death, Jennifer Ryan’s debut novel thrillingly illuminates the true strength of the women on the home front in a village of indomitable spirit.
REVIEW
The Chilbury Ladies Choir is a heartwarming novel set in England during World War II. It is an epistolary novel told through letters and journal entries of several women in the town of Chilbury. What is most charming are the unique personalities of the characters - the widow, the busybody, the refugee, and more. With all the men gone to war, they are forced to recreate their choir as "Ladies Only". There are secrets, romances, triumphs, and great sadness too which takes the reader on a continual roller coaster of emotion. I am not surprised that this book has reached national bestseller status. It is sure to please!

Bad Girl - Susan Joyce

This is Susan Joyce. Susan was caught stealing stealing 6s 5d from a gas meter at a house. When the occupant of the house noticed the meter's broken lock and the money extracted, the police were called.  
Susan's sister, Ellen, did nothing to protect her wayward sister. In fact, she ratted on Susan and told the police that Susan came to her came to her house with her apron full of copper. Susan had no choice but to admit her crime to the investigating detectives. She relinquished the money and was dutifully charged. She was fined 5s and 10s in costs.